3 Arizona operations appoint new CEOs in June

Three Arizona businesses announced CEO transitions in June: the Arizona Coyotes, one of the state’s largest charities and a tribal enterprise.

The three transitions brought Arizona CEO changes to 16 for the first half of 2017, reported career-transitioning firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

One of the most high-visibility changes was the resignation of Uber’s CEO, Travis Kalanick, who faced criticism amid disclosures that the ridesharing company tolerated a culture of sexual harassment and discrimination.

Uber has been looking at some female candidates to take over as head of the privately held corporation that Kalanick helped to establish.

“Especially in Silicon Valley tech companies, where there is a dearth of women in high-level, high-profile positions, this would be a particularly wise move,” John Challenger, CEO of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, said in a statement.

Anthony LeBlanc stepped down in June as president and CEO of the Arizona Coyotes amid management changes at the pro hockey franchise. He was replaced this month by Steve Patterson, the former athletic director at Arizona State University.

Also in June, Dave Richins was named CEO of Mesa-based United Food Bank, one of Arizona’s largest non-profit groups. A former Mesa city councilman and business executive, Richins replaced Ginny Hildebrand, who retired earlier in 2017 after three years at the helm.

The third Arizona CEO change involved Roberta Roberts taking over the Navajo Housing Authority in Window Rock. An Arizona Republic investigation asserted that the agency, under former CEO Aneva Yazzie, mismanaged millions of dollars of federal grants designed to provide housing for tribal members. Yazzie served in the post for 10 years.